Kosciusko County Commissioners, from left, Cary Groninger, Bob Conley and Brad Jackson during a previous county commissioners meeting. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

By David Slone
Times-Union

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Two bids were received for the county’s American Rescue Plan Act resurfacing project for portions of CR 1300N and three other county roads at Tuesday’s, Sept. 10, county commissioners meeting, and they were within $6,000 of each other.

Kosciusko County Highway Department Superintendent Steve Moriarty said the paving was for CR 1300N from the extension of the new overpass to Kern Road; CR 100E from CR 1300N to CR 1250N; CR 1250N from CR 100E to the joint near Jeremy Drive; and CR 175E from CR 1300N to CR 1150N.

Brooks Construction bid a total of $1,325,424. Broken down by road, their bids were $899,605 for CR 1300N; $87,005.01 for CR 100E; $93,376.50 for CR 1250N; and $245,437.49 for CR 175E.

Phend & Brown bid a total of $1,318,940.50. Broken down by road, their bids were $897,257.50 for CR 1300N; $87,615 for CR 100E; $87,673.50 for CR 1250N; and $246,394.50 for CR 175E.

Moriarty requested to take the bids under advisement and he’d return to the commissioners’ Sept. 24 meeting with a recommendation. The commissioners approved his request.

The county allocated about $1.9 million of its ARPA funds toward the paving.

Commissioner Bob Conley said at 1 p.m. Thursday is the official opening of the CR 1300N overpass with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Earlier in the meeting, Moriarty requested approval to apply for two Highway Safety Improvement Program grants from the Indiana Department of Transportation.

He said the county was awarded the HSIP grant last year for road striping for $500,000.

“This year, we’d like to apply for two of those. So first I would need permission to apply for a $500,000 grant — and this is a 90/10 split so it would cost the county $50,000 for $500,000 worth of road striping. And, also, $500,000 with upgraded signs. So it would be a total of $1 million that we would go for. We have to apply for them separately. Both of them are a 90/10,” Moriarty explained.

In making a motion approving for Moriarty to apply for both grants, Commissioner Cary Groninger said the 90/10 split was a very good way to leverage the county taxpayers’ dollars. The motion passed 3-0.

With those same grants, Moriarty needed a financial commitment letter to include with the applications. He said the county’s share will come out of the Motor Vehicle Highway funds. The letter was approved.

Moriarty also presented to the commissioners two other items, starting off with a no-parking ordinance for Brook Boulevard and Vicky Lane brought to him from the homeowners association and validated by his department with study. Both of the roads are in Country subdivision.

The ordinance was unanimously approved, as was a rental contract with Finlay Midwest for $14,000 for a power screener to break down road millings into a smaller product.

In other business, the commissioners approved:

• For the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office to enter into two contracts with APCO and Central Square, both related to the same project, as requested by Chief Deputy Chris McKeand. Central Dispatch is looking to upgrade its medical guidelines for 911 calls to a digital format that works with the CAD system. McKeand said the money for the contracts is already budgeted.

• A request from Tammy Johnson, Probation Department, to apply for a $7,000 Kosciusko Coalition On Drug Education grant for the Re-Entry Court. The money will be used for training of the Re-Entry Court team once it gets up and running in 2025.

• A transfer of $250,000 from GDI Recon Projects to the General Drain Fund, as requested by County Surveyor Mike Kissinger.

• Health Department Administrator Bob Weaver’s request to enter into a contract with US Imaging Inc. to transform all the county’s birth and death records into digital format. They date back to 1882 and there’s a lot of them, he said. Cost is about $30,000, and Weaver said he has the funds in his budget.

• A quote from ProTech for $33,354 to clean the air ducts at the Kosciusko County Jail, as requested by County Administrator Marsha McSherry.

• A change order for $40,000 from Brooks Construction for the Justice Building parking lot renovation for the removal of some soft soils and rubble that were found, as requested by Groninger. The $40,000 is a not-to-exceed quote.
The next meeting of the county commissioners is at 9 a.m. Sept. 24